After the emphatic victory over Hull City on Wednesday evening, Chelsea welcome Sunderland FC to Stamford Bridge this Saturday. The fixture gives Chelsea the chance to keep up the pressure on the leaders Liverpool whilst also giving them the opportunity to get back to winning ways at home after that dramatic defeat to Liverpool last Sunday.
Vital Quotes:
Ten years after making his Chelsea debut, John Terry remains as enthusiastic about the club as the day he first pulled on that familiar blue shirt.
Ahead of the Sunderland game, he`s talked about getting back to winning ways at Stamford Bridge, remarking,
“People are going to start talking about whether we can get back to winning ways at home quickly again. We have a difficult game ahead of us, Sunderland are in good form and their strike force are doing well.”
“But we have two days to bounce back mentally at home and try and get another run going.”
Well said John, let`s get that first win under our belt and move on from there.
Chelsea Team News:
After looking as if the injury problems were becoming less of a problem, Wednesday night saw two more players destined for the Cobham treatment room. Both Joe Cole (ankle) and Ricardo Carvalho (hamstring) picked up injuries and both are rated as very doubtful for the visit of Roy Keane`s men.
Therefore, with Michael Essien, Michael Ballack and Didier Drogba also still all out injured, Luiz Felipe Scolari finds his possible selection restricted. Alex is certain to come in for Carvalho but a replacement for Joe Cole is less likely to predict.
Normally Salomon Kalou would fit into that position but his recent performances have suggested that he`s a little short on confidence and form, therefore, Scolari may be tempted to turn to Juliano Belletti on that flank or he may surprise us all and give youth the chance some say it deserves, in the shape of either Scott Sinclair or Miraslav Stoch.
Here at Vital Chelsea, what we`d like to see as to what we`re likely to see are different matters, we anticipate that Scolari will go with his tried and trusted and select the following eleven:-
Cech, Bosingwa, Alex Terry, A.Cole, Mikel, Lampard, Deco, Kalou, Anelka, Malouda.
Player to watch: Frank Lampard
Super Frank is fast collecting as many accolades from Scolari as he did from Mourinho. Indeed, Scolari described his goal against Hull as world class, however, it should be pointed out that the goal at the KC Stadium also left him on 99 Premier League goals, here`s to number one hundred coming up against the Black Cats.
Sunderland Team News:
The Mackams arrive in SW6 buoyed by a win over near rivals Newcastle but with a midweek loss, against Stoke, to contemplate, a loss that had Roy Keane ranting,
“Certain players did not turn up on Wednesday and I learned more about my players in that evening than I have in all the time I have been at the club. “
‘Our passing and movement was not what is expected against Stoke. “
‘The players let themselves down and the supporters down and I will not just right off that defeat and that is why I will make changes.’
Therefore, Kenwyne Jones is likely to make a first start after recovering from a long term knee injury sustained on international duty. Phil Bardsley has also recovered from a leg injury and will be in contention for a place. However, their record signing keeper, Craig Gordon is unlikely to be fit so Fulop will deputise.
Roy Keane will select hi starting eleven from
Fulop, Colgan, Bardsley, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, Collins, McCartney, Malbranque, Whitehead, Tainio, Leadbitter, Miller, Yorke, Richardson, Reid, Diouf, Jones, Cisse, Chopra, Murphy, Healy, Waghorn.
With Gordon out injured there may well be a return, albeit on the bench, to Stamford Bridge for Nick Colgan, a promising keeper who sort fame and fortune elsewhere after coming through the junior ranks at Chelsea.
Player to watch: Kieran Richardson
The free kick he scored for Sunderland against Newcastle, last Saturday, was sensational. The previous week he was unlucky to see a free kick from a similar range ruled out for a foul in the wall. Give him an opportunity Chelsea and he will punish you.
Match Facts & Stats
The history books show that Chelsea usually triumphs in home fixtures against Sunderland.
Current statistics are as follows:-
Premier League – Chelsea 6 wins, Sunderland 1 wins, Draws 0
All League Games – Chelsea 33 wins, Sunderland 7 wins, Draws 11
Last season Chelsea ran out winners courtesy of goals from Andriy Shevchenko (who?) and Frank Lampard.
The same again tomorrow would be most welcoming.
Ref Watch:
Martin Atkinson, of Yorkshire will be the official in charge.
Match Prediction:
There are no ifs and buts about this one, Chelsea need to get a much needed home win to keep the pressure upon Liverpool. It`s puzzling that we`ve won all away games but struggled at home to match that form. Now is the time to start putting it right. Roy Keane`s side will be competitive and will keep things tight but here at Vital Chelsea we can see the ‘Lion` mauling the ‘Black Cat` and coming away with a 2-0 win.
Next Fixtures:
Our next fixture, on Tuesday, sees us travel to the eternal city to take on AS Roma in a Champions league Group ‘A` fixture. Our next Premier League fixture is a trip to Ewood Park to take on Paul Ince`s Blackburn Rovers.